Tent



1939- w. L. MELLOR 2,168,428

TENT

Filed July 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Wilbur Lawrence Me//0/- ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1939. wHL. MELLOR TENT Filed July 16, i937 cs Sheets-Sheet 2 ailgm mm,

INVENTOR Wilbur lam-ems Me/lorr Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE TENT Application July 16, 1937, Serial No. 153,964

' 17 Claims. (01. 135-15) This invention relates to tents, particularly to those of the roped type, and has for its principal objectsto provide a tent of this character that lends to ease of erection, and which is of a strong, weatherproof, light weight, and lasting construction.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive pole ring which avoids direct contact between the poles and can- 10 vas; to provide a pole ring having larger pin openings to facilitate entrance of the pins and yet provide a more nearly leak-proof arrangement after the poles are in place; to provide a pole ring that simplifies splicing-in of the necessary stay, up, down, guy and cave ropes; to provide a pole ring which reduces the amount of leather or similar material required in covering the rope splices; to provide a pole ring construction which better protects the canvas and ropes from wear by the poles; and to provide a pole ring construction which affords positive bearing contact with the poles.

. .It is also an important object of the invention to provide a pole ring construction to compensate 25 for change in angle between the down and guy ropes necessary in exerting the required downthrust upon the wall poles of the tent.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of the eaves portion of a roped tent constructed in accordance with the present invention, a part of the tent top and side wall canvas being broken away to better illustrate the roping and pole arrangement.

Fig. 2 is an underneath view of a quarter pole ring of the tent, showing the splicing-in of the quarter stay, up, and down ropes, a part of the leather covering being broken away to show the up rope connection with the pole ring.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through oneof the 45 quarter pole rings and adjacent portion of. the

tent top, and showing the pole in position with the pin extending through the hub of the ring.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the pole ring before its application to the tent top.

50 Fig. 5 is a section through one of the wall pole rings at the eaves of the tent, showing splicingin of the down, eaves extension, and guy ropes.

Fig 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the side pole rings. 55 Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the thimble that ing application of the modified form of ring illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. is a section through one side of the pole ring illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, showing attach- 10 ment of the canvas thereto.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a circus or like tent, including a canvas top 2 having side portions 3 sloping downwardly and outwardly from the ridge of the tent (not shown) toward side walls.

7 In the tent illustrated, the top includes an eaves extension i2, having a drop l3 projecting circumferentially of the side and end walls of the tent. The top of the tent is supported by a series of wall poles I! having pins l8 extending through wall pole rings l9. In large tents the top is further supported by one or more sets of quarter poles similar to the poles l1 and desig nated in Fig. 3 by the numeral 20 having pins 2| extending through quarter pole rings 22.

The canvas composing the top 2 is provided with up ropes 23 (Fig. 2) connected with thequarter pole rings 29, and down ropes 24 con necting the quarter pole rings with the wall pole rings 49. The top is further provided with quarter band ropes 25 (Fig. 2) connecting the respective quarter pole rings 22, and with inside eave ropes 28 connecting the wall pole rings is, as shown in Fig. l. The eaves extension and outside eaves ropes 28 are supported by main guy ropes 2! that connect with the wall pole rings, and are anchored to suitable stakes (not shown) that are driven into the ground at points spaced outwardly from the wall poles IT at sufficient distances so that the guyropes 21 extend downwardly at a greater angle than the up and down ropes to exert downthrust upon the wall poles. Also connected with the wall pole rings I9 alongside the main guy ropes 21, are short eaves extension ropes 29, carrying thimbles 30 for passing the outside eaves rope 28, and connecting secondary guy ropes 3i that are anchored to stakes (not shown) driven into the ground in inwardly spaced relation with the stakes for the main guy ropes. I

The quarter pole rings are best illustrated in Fig. 4 and include sleeve-like hub portions 33 of suitable diameter to seat against the upper ends 34 of the respective poles, and having inner diameters substantially larger than the diameters of the pole pins so as to permit angular insertion of the pins through the hubs when the tent is being erected, and to permit straightening of the pins in the hubs when the poles are raised to support the tent top. In order to close the openings 35 in the hubs, the top ends of the hubs terminate in upwardly and inwardly extending flanges 36, having openings 31 only slightly larger than the diameter of the pole pins, as best shown in Fig. 3, so as to reduce possible leakage through the hubs.

Extending radially from the hubs, below the flanges 36, are diametrically paired arms 38-39 and 46-4| carrying rings 42, having larger inner diameters than the outer diameters of the hubs to cooperate with the arms in forming rope spaces or eyes 43-44 and 45-46 of sufficient size to snugly pass the rope splices, as later described. The rings 42 are of substantially circular crosssection, and are so arranged relatively to the arms that a plane passing through their horizontal diameter substantially aligns with the bases of the hub flanges 36. The pole rings may vary in size depending upon the size of the tent, larger rings being required for the larger tents to accommodate the larger pole pins and roping.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate splicing of the up, down, and quarter band ropes into the quarter pole rings. The strands of the up and down ropes 23 and 24 are unlaid and passed through the spaces 43 and 45, after which the strands are spliced and laid between the twisted strands, as in conventional rope splicing. The quarter band ropes are similarly extended through the spaces 44 and 46 and spliced in like manner, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The quarter band ropes are preferably located adjacent one of the canvas seams 41, and are secured thereto by sewing through the seam, as indicated by the stitches 48. The up and down seams 49 are similarly stitched to the up and down ropes, as indicated by the stitches 50. If desired, the canvas may be reinforced over the splices by securing a circular patch to the under side of the canvas by stitches 52. The center of the canvas and patch are cut away to provide an opening to accommodate the contracted end or flange 36 of the hub. In order to fully close the spaces through which the ropes are extended, the upper surface of the canvas is provided with a leather patch 54, having its outer periphery secured by stitching 55. The inner portion of the leather covering is provided with tablike portions 56, 51, 58 and 59 that are extended through the respective openings 43-44 and 45-46, brought back over the spliced ends of the ropes, and secured to the inner face of the patch by stitching 66. When the ropes are thus applied to the ring, together with the leather covering, the spaces about the periphery of the hub are completely closed to prevent leakage therethrough. The push pole rings are secured to the roping of the tent substantially in the same manner as the quarter pole rings just described.

The wall pole rings l9 are best illustrated in Fig. 6 and include hub portions 6|, having paired radial arms 62-63 and 64-65, with the arms 65 and 63 arranged reversely with respect to the ends of the hub to the arms 62 and 64. The ring 66 carried thereby is downset intermediate the arms 62-64 and 63-65, as indicated at 61 and 68. These oifsets thus draw the portion of the ring connecting the arms 62 and 65 below the portion of the ring connecting the arms 63 and 64, to correspond to the change in angle between the down and guy ropes. The strands at the lower ends of the down ropes 24 (Figs. 1 and 6) are unlaid and passed through the space 69, provided between the arms 64 and 63, and the strands are then laid between the twisted strands of the rope to secure the rope to the ring. The ends of the inside eaves ropes are similarly spliced to the downset portions of the rings 61 and 68 (Figs. 5 and 6). The main guy ropes are, in effect, continuations of the down ropes, and have their upper ends 16 spliced over the downset portion of the ring between the arms 62 and 65. Also extended through this space, and spliced to the rings, are the short eaves extension ropes 29, the outer ends of which are formed in loops H carrying the thimbles 3|] through which the outside eave rope is extended, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The outside eaves rope 28 has selected strands spread apart to pass the main guy rope, as indi-- cated at 12 in Fig. l. The spliced ends of the respective ropes, as well as the ring, are covered with leather or similar material in the same manner as described in connection with the showing in Figs. 2 and 3. The secondary guy ropes 3| are extended through the thimbles 30 in the form of loops 13, which also provide passage for the main guy ropes as indicated at 14. The short extension ropes 29, as well as the main and secondary guy ropes, are thus substantially tied to gether to form an integral unit under the eaves extension of the tent top. The side walls 15 of the tent are suspended from the inside eave ropes 26, as in conventional practice. The drop |3 at the outer edge of the cave extension hangs over the outside eave rope 28, as shown in Fig. 1. When the ropes are connected with the rings, the rings are retained in their proper position relatively to the tent top and the tent top is securely attached to the respective ropes. The ropes thus cooperate with the tent top to form a unitary structure.

In assembling a tent constructed as described, the tent top is spread over the ground after which the pin ends of the poles are inserted through the pole rings and raised to erect position. The ends of the main and secondary guy ropes 21 and 3| are secured to the ground stakes that have been previously driven in their proper positions. The angle of the up rope 24 relative to the down ropes 23 is preferably such as to exert downward thrust upon the quarter poles, which are set according to the angle that the quarter pole rings assume so that the base of the hubs set squarely against the ends of the poles. The wall poles are set perpendicular and for this reason it is necessary that the wall pole rings be offset, as shown in Fig. 6, to accommodate the change in angularity of the down and guy ropes to thereby exert downthrust on the wall poles to enhance the rigidityof the tent.

In Figs. 8, 9 and is shown a modified form of pole ring. In this type of ring the hub 80 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 8|, having openings 82 to which the inner edge 83 of a covering disk 84 is secured by fastening means such as cords 85. The tent top 86 is provided with a central opening 81, and the edge thereof is laced, as at 88, to the ring 89, to which the respective ropes are spliced as in the manner described in the preferred forms of the invention. The outer periphery of the leather covering is secured to the upper surface of the tent top by stitching 90.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an improved tent which facilitates erection and which is of strong, light construction, capable of withstanding the full force of a storm. It is also obvious that-the pole rings are so constructed that there is no wearing contact between the poles and the canvas parts of the tent or roping.

While I have particularly illustrated and described the invention in connection with a roped tent of the center push pole type, it is obvious that it is most suitable for use in larger tents of the bail ring type and I wish it understood that the invention is not limited to the type of tent specifically illustrated and described.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a roped tent of the character described, a pole ring including a sleeve-like hub having a seating portion for engaging the end of a tent pole and having a larger inner diameter than the diameter of the pin on the tent pole to facilitate entrance of the pin in erecting the tent, and a flange on said hub having an opening substantially corresponding tothe diameter of the tent pin to eliminate leakage through said hub.

2. Ina roped tent of the character described, a pole ring including a sleeve-like hub having a seating portion for engaging the end of a tent pole and having a larger inner diameter than the diameter of the pin on the tent pole to facilitate entrance of the pin in erecting the tent, and an annular flange on the upper end of said hub sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the pin of the tent pole to eliminate leakage through saidhub.

3. In a ropedtent of the character described, a pole ring including a sleeve-like hub having a seating portion for engaging the end of a tent pole and having a larger inner diameter than the diameter of the pin on the tent pole to facilitate entrance of the pin in erecting the tent, afiange on said hub having an opening subsantially corresponding to the diameter of the tent pin to eliminate leakage through said hub, and a rope splicing ring encirclingly supported by said hub.

'4. In a roped tent of the character described, a pole ring including a sleeve-like hub having a seating portion for engaging the end of a tent pole and having a larger inner diameter than the diameter of the pin on the tent pole to facilitate entrance of the pin in erecting the tent, an annular flange on said hub sloping upwardly and inwardly toward the pin of the tent pole to eliminate leakage through said hub, and a rope splicing ring encirclingly supported by said hub.

5. In a tent including a top having up, down and annular ropes, pole rings connecting the up and down ropes with the annular ropes,

sleeve-like hubs concentrically connected with said rings for receiving the pins of poles supporting the top, and covering members secured to the top and having portions extending over said rings to cover ring engaging portions of said ropes.

6. In a tent including a top having down and eaves ropes, pole rings connecting the down ropes with the eaves ropes, an outside eaves rope, extension eaves ropes connected'with the rings and having thimbles for passing the outside eaves rope, and main guy ropes connected with the pole rings and extending through said thimbles.

'7. In a tent including a top having down and eaves ropes, pole rings connecting the downropes with the eaves ropes, sleeve-like hubs carried by the rings,-poles having pins engaging in said hubs, extension eaves ropes connected with the rings and having thimbles for passing an outside eaves rope, and main guy ropes connected with the pole rings and extending through said thimbles.

8. In a tent of the character described, a pole ring including a sleeve-like'hub for accommodating the pin of a tent pole, and a rope splicing ring having oifset portions oiIset toward the respective ends of the hub.

9. A tent including a top having down and eaves ropes, rings having upper and lower offset portions, down ropes connected with the upper of said offset portions, extension eaves ropes connected with the lower offset portions and having thimbles for passing an outside eaves rope, and main guy ropes connected with said lower offset portions and extending through said thimbles.

10. A tent including a top having down and eaves ropes, rings having upper and lower offset portions, down ropes connected with the upper of said offset portions, extension eaves ropes connected with the lower offset portions and having thimbles for passing an outside eaves rope, main guy ropes connected with said lower offset portions and extending through said thimbles, and secondary guy ropes connected with said thimbles.

11.v In a tent, a pole ring including a sleeve-like hub having paired arms extending radially from said hub, a ring connected with said arms for securingroping of said tent, and means on said hub for attaching a covering for said ring.

12. In a roped tent of the character described, a pole ring including a sleeve-like hub having a seating portion for engaging the end of a tent pole and having a larger inner diameter than the diameter of the pin on the tent pole to facilitate entrance of the pin in erecting the tent, a flange on said hub having an opening substantially corresponding to the diameter of the tent pin to eliminate leakage through said hub, paired arms extending from said hub, a rope splicing ring connected with said arms and supported in encircling relation with said hub, and ropes spliced to said splicing ring and substantially filling spaces between the splicing ring and hub.

13. A pole ring including a hub, a ring encircling the hub, and arms connecting the hub with the ring, said ring having onset portions on opposite diametrical sides of the hub.

14. In a tent of the character described, a tent top, reinforcing ropes secured to the tent top, and pole rings interconnecting said ropes and having hubs provided with openings arranged for angular entrance of the pins of tent poles with respect to the axis of said hubs when the reinforcing ropes are retaining said rings out of position to effect axial entrance of said pins in erecting the tent, said openings being restricted at the upper end of the hubs to substantially center and prevent leakage around said hubs.

15. A tent including a top having down and inner and outer eaves ropes, pole rings connecting the down and inner eaves ropes, extension eaves: ropes connected with said pole rings and having thimbles for passing the outer eaves rope, main guy ropes connected with said rings and extending through said thimbles, and secondary guy ropes connected with said thimbles.

16. A tent including a top having down and inner and outer eaves ropes, pole rings connecting the down and inner eaves ropes, extension eaves of poles supporting said top.

1'7. In a roped tent of the character described, a pole ring including a s1eeve-like hub having a seating portion for engaging the end of a tent pole and having a larger inner diameter than the diameter of the pin on the tent pole to facilitate entrance of the pin in erecting the tent, a flange on said hub having an opening substantially corresponding to the diameter of the tent pin to eliminate leakage through said hub, arms extending from said hub, a rope splicing ring connected with said arms, ropes spliced to said splicing ring and substantially filling spaces between the splicing ring and hub, and a covering member fixed to said tent and having portions extending over said ropes and through the splicing ring to complete closure of said spaces.

WILBUR LAWRENCE MELLOR. 

